Kiran sat frozen at his desk, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. Around him, the classroom carried on as if nothing unusual had occurred. The chatter of students, the scratching of pens, the steady voice of the teacher—it was all painfully normal.
Was it all just in my head? he wondered. But the god's words echoed in his mind: Choose two souls to survive.
His chest tightened. Who could he choose? No matter what, everyone else—their families, their friends—would all be erased. Even if he saved someone, they'd wake up in a world stripped bare, empty of everyone they loved.
But deep down, he already knew his answer.
If I can save just one person… it has to be her.
The minutes crawled by like hours. His palms were slick with sweat, his whole body trembling as he imagined billions of lives about to vanish. He thought about trying to plead with the god, to beg for mercy. But would that even matter?
Then, in the silence of his mind, the voice returned.
"Have you made your choice?"
Kiran's throat went dry. He forced the words out.
"Yes… it's her."
He turned his head and pointed toward Lila Florent.
The god's voice rumbled with cruel amusement.
"Very well. Now—witness the destruction of your Earth."
No one else seemed to hear. The very next moment, the ground began to quake violently. Desks rattled, windows shuddered.
"EARTHQUAKE!" the teacher screamed. "Everyone, under the desks!"
Students dove for cover, but the tremors ended almost as quickly as they began. For a heartbeat, silence hung in the air. Then—
A blinding flash erupted from the earth itself. The planet split open, exploding outward like a dying star. The classroom, the city, the oceans, the continents—everything was gone in an instant.
Everyone, except Kiran and Lila.
A shimmering barrier held them suspended amidst the void, untouched as their world tore itself apart. And then, from the darkness, the entity emerged once again.
"Since you humans are so fond of your names…" the god said with a chilling smile. "Tell me yours."
Lila's whole body shook. Her face was pale, her breath short. She couldn't comprehend what she had just seen. The god reached forward and placed a hand on her cheek. In an instant, memories flooded into her—his origin, his boredom, his destructive will, the cruel reason why she and Kiran were the last survivors.
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed, trembling.
Kiran clenched his fists. "My name is… Kiran Vale. And this is… Lila Florent."
The god chuckled. "Vale and Florent… such meaningless things now. Family names are for those who still have families."
Lila's eyes filled with tears. She staggered to her feet and turned on Kiran.
"Why?" she demanded. "Why did you choose me?!"
Kiran's mouth opened, but no words came. He had no answer.
The god tilted his head, amused. "Do you wish you had died instead, girl? Would you prefer someone else in your place?"
Lila's lips trembled. "If I could choose… I'd choose my father."
The god smirked and, with a flick of his fingers, summoned her father into the void. The man blinked in confusion, then froze as he saw Lila standing before him, her face streaked with tears.
"I brought you back for a question," the god said. "If only one person could survive the end of your planet… would you choose yourself, or your daughter?"
The man didn't hesitate. He straightened, meeting the god's gaze. "My daughter. Always my daughter."
The god grinned. "So be it."
The man barely had time to turn toward Lila before his body dissolved into nothing. She reached out desperately, her voice breaking, but no words came. Only tears.
Kiran's heart sank.
The god clasped his hands together, eyes gleaming with delight.
"Enough sentiment. You two amuse me. From now on, I will send you to different worlds. Survive them, struggle through them, and entertain me. Ready or not… it is time for your next world."
The void split open beneath their feet.
And they fell.